Cable-making apparatus



Sept. 3, 1940'. G. E. HENNING ET m.

CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS 13, 193s 11 sheets-sheet `1 yFilmed Dec.

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CABLEMAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3,1940 G.E.HENN1NG Er M.

CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 13, 1938 /NVENTORSSept. 3, 1940` G. E. HENNING er A1.

CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Deo. 15, 1958 la7 aff/89w .A A

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CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS Filed DeC. 13, 1938 A TTORA/F Sept. 3, 1940. G.E. HENNING er m.

CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS l1 Sheets-Shouf 6 Filed Dec. 13, 1938 l Sept. 3,1940. a. E. HENNING er AL, 2,213,703 n CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec.13, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 DECS/i550 n H H fw www N5 A wmf J fm T.Y ,55BD Sept. 3, 1940. G. E. HENNING Er AL.

CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13,- 1958 11ShectsSheet 8 Il H HH IlIl Il H IIJL INVENTOE'S GEHENN/NG F.' V JOHNSON- B y l a TTORNEY G. E.HENNING Er Ax.

CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1s, 1938 Sept. 3, 1940.

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Sept. 3, 1940. G. E. HENNING Er AL 2,213,703

` CABLE-MAKING APARATUs Filed Dec. 15, 1939 11 snqgs-sheap 1o Sept. 3;194);`

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CABLE-MAKING APPARATUS F1166; Das. 13 193s l. www-Sham ll v MV MEN T.www i w mm@ www@ `Patented Sept. 3, 1940` UNITED STATES PATE ortica ,l

2,213,703 y CABLE-MAKING ArPAmrros George E. Henning, Fallston, Md.,Fred V. Johnson, deceased, late of Baltimore, Md., by Lila T. Johnson,

executrx, Baltimore, Md., and

Application December 13, 1938, Serial No. 245,540

10 Claims.

This invention relates to cable-making apparatus and more particularlyto apparatus for making cable, which comprises a plurality' of wiresheld apart by insulators engaging the wires at spaced intervals. 4

Recent developments in the communications field have vindicated thedesirability of providing cables for certain purposes comprised of aplurality of strands of conducting material spaced one from another andsheathed with a suitable covering without using a solid layer ofdielectric between the strands but rather by providing washers orspacingv members placed at regularly spaced intervals throughout thelength of the cable for holding the conducting strands in spacedrelation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable makingapparatus for assembling wires and their insulating spacers in apredetermined relation with a high degree of accuracy.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an apparatusfor making a cable of four wires twisted with respect to each other andspaced one from another by spacers positioned throughout the length ofthe cable at predetermined intervals comprises four major -por tions,which are a Wire-feeding mechanism, a spacer and wire assemblingmechanisms, a taping mechanism, and a twisting and takeup mechanism. Inthis embodiment of the invention, four reels of wire are positioned tobe fed to an assembling apparatus by means of suitable guides whichdirect the wire into slots formed in spacers fed in a predetermined pathby the spacer. and

' wire assembling mechanism. The spacer and wire assembling mechanismincludes a hopper and a spacer-feeding device associated therewith v forfeeding spacers one at a time into a chainlike spacer-carrying devicewhich advances the spacers in their predetermined Aspaced relation whilethe wires are forced into slots in the spacers. At the end of the spacerand wire assembling fixture, micrometrically adjustable rolls areprovided for forcing or rolling the wires a predetermined distance intothe slots in the spacers and a set of guide members are provided forholding the wire and spacers in a predetermined plane during theassembly thereof The apparatus for sheathing the formed cable and fortwisting the wires is positioned adjacent the wire and spacer assemblingmechanism and comprises a series f taping heads and a twisting takeuphead, which imparts a spiral twist to the assembled spacers and wires asthey are fed through the taping mechanism. The taping mechanism duringthe passage of the wire therethrough applies paper tapes, a copper tapeand two steel tapes to the cable as it is drawn to the twisting takeuphead.

A better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view ofthewire supply and spacer-assembling mechanism; y y

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the taping mechanism and the twisting takeupmechanism, and when placed to the right of Fig. 2, discloses generallythe entire plan View of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the taping mechanism and thetwistingtakeupghead and when placed to the right of Fig. 1, togetherwith Fig. 1, discloses generally the side elevational View of the entireapparatus;

Fig. 5 is an'enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the hopperand 'a portion of the spacer feeding mechanism, or in other words, thatportion of the machine whichmay be seen when viewing the apparatus alongthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows, parts of thisfigure being broken away to more clearly show the construction of theapparatus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sctional View taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on th linel-l of Fig. 5 inthe direction of the arrows showing some of the details of theconstruction of the hopper mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 8-8 of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 9 9 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side eleva tional view of a portionof the wire and spacer assembling apparatus showing one of themicrometrically adjustable elements 'for setting a wire into thespacers, parts of the apparatus being broken away to conserve space, andthe gure showing, on an enlarged scale, that portion of the apparatuswhich would be in view when looking in the direction of the arrows alongthe line Ill-l0 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a partial plan view of that part of the apparatus which maybe seen looking in the direction of the arrows along the line II--ll ofFig. 10 inthe direction of the arrows;

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary sectional views taken on.v the lines|2-I2 and |3-|3, respectively, 'of Fig. 10 in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of theelements whichforce the Wires into the spacers if they have not been properlypositioned bythe other wire setting elementsand l 'vshows those partswhich may. be viewed along the line |4|4 of Fig. 2 in the directionofthe arrows; Y

Figs. 15 and 16 are fragmentary sectional and plan views, respectively,taken along the lines |5|5 and |6-,|6, respectively, of Fig. 14 in thedirection of the arrows;

lao

Figs. 1'1 and' 18 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional views.taken substantially along the lines |1-'-|1 and |8-|8,`respectively,'ofFig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged, side elevational view. partly 'in'section, ofthe paper tape serving mechanism showing the apparatus, which may beviewed' looking in the direction of the arrows i views, respectively, ofportions of the taping heads for applying the copper and steel tapes,respectively, and are similar to the, structure shown in the right endof Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentaryside elevational view, partly insection, of the twisting takeup mechanism, as viewed along the line22-22 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken along the line 23-23 ofFig. 22 in the direction of the-arrows;

Fig. 24v is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line24-24 of Fig. 22 in the direction of the arrows on a somewhat reducedscale;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line25-25 of Fig. 23 in the direction of the arrows;

' Fig. 26 is a sectional View taken on the line 26--26 of Fig. 25 in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Fig.23 in the direction of the arrows;`

Fig.v 28 is an enlarged View of the completed cable with part of thewrappings of paper, copper and steel partially unwound therefrom toillustrate the construction of the completedv cable; and

Fig. 29 is an enlarged partial sectional view tak en through thecompleted cable shown in Fig. 28, the section being enlarged andexaggerating the thickness of the tapes to more clearlyshow them.

Before referring in detail to the drawings, it will be noted that thedetailed description of the structure shown thereon hasbeen divided intothree parts in order to simplify the description thereof. These threeparts vcomprise the wire and spacer assembling mechanism, the tapingmechanism, and the 'twisting takeup mechanism.

In the drawings, which will now be discussed in detail, the same partshave been given the samefreference numerals throughout the severalviews` and the first part of the apparatus to be described is the wireand spacer assembling mechanism.A`

Wire and spacer assembling mechanism discs having slots 46, 4|, 42 and43 formed there-l in into which the apparatus forcesthe wires 35, 36,y31 and38, respectively. rIn the drawings the slots 46,',4|, 42l and 43have been'designated only in Fig. 29 since `the showing thereof in, allviews.'`

would obscure some features of the apparatus. The wires 35, 36,31 and438 are drawn in the operation of the machine from four supply spools44, 45, 46 and 41 and directed through suitably tapered guides 48, 49,56 and 5| to wire straightening devices 52, 53, 54 and 55, respecytively. The supply spools 44, 45, 46 and 4-1 are shown in dot and dashlines in Figs. 1 and 2 and may be of any suitable type having caps 56,51,58 and 59 positioned thereon for permitting the easyv Withdrawal ofthe operation of the apparatus. vAdiacent the supply spools 44, 45 and46, there is a standard 66 which supports three arms 6|, 62 and 63,which have the guides 48, 49 and 56 mounted in the ends thereof andvwhich support the wire straightening devices 52, 53 and 54. The threespools 44, 45 and 46 and. their associated apparatus are mounted at theleft end of the apparatus and direct the wire from the spools 44, 45 and46 to the disc and wire assembling mechanism, the three wires 35, 36 and31 being the bottom and two side wires of the cable while the wires andspacers are being assembled.

yThe hopper which 'feeds the spacers 38 into association with the 'wires35, 36 and 31 is shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and comprisesa perforated barrel 15 mounted on a sleeve 16, which is, in turn, fixedto a stud shaft 11. A hollow standard 18 supports the Vstud shaft 11andthe movable and stationary parts of the hopper mechanism. The sleeve16 has three arms 19, 86 and 8| extending outwardly therefrom whichconstitute a spider for supporting a stationary ring 82 and a tube 83.An enlarged portion 84 formed integral with the sleeve 16 (Figs.

5, 6 and 7) has a slot 85 formed therein for rel with a passageway 91formed in the stud shaftV 11, which in turn is interconnected with apassageway 98 leading into the hollow standard 18, which is, in turnconnected to a suitable evacuating pump -(not shown) whereby a suctionis applied through the standard 18, stud shaft 11 VandV arm 86' to thegroove 95.

Rotatablyvmounted upon the stud shaft 11 is a collar |66 carrying on itsleft end a disc |6| of slightly smaller diameter than the stationaryring 82. This disc` |6| has a ring |62 fixed thereto by means of screws|63 and has a series of holes |64 equally spaced about4 its lefthandface `(Fig. 6) in alignment with the groove 95 in the stationary ring 82so that as the disc |6| is rotated, as will be described hereinafter,the holes |64 will be brought into communication with the groove 95 andthe'suction applied to the groove 95 will be also applied successivelyto the holes wire 'from the.Y spoolsby ythe .20

Each of the holes |04 extends partway through the ringl02 and intocommunication with a radially extending hole |05, of which there is onedrilled from the inner edge of the ring |02 to communicate with each ofthe holes |04. Each of the holes |05 is positioned in the center of adepression |08 in the ring |02 and will tend to hold a spacer 39 inposition in Ythe depression |08 as the ring |02 rotates. It will thus beapparent that the suction applied to the ring |02 will hold spacers 39,which have fallen into the depressions |08 by gravity, in the depression|08 as long as the holes |04 are in communication with the groove 95 inthe stationaryring 82. The disc is driven in a clockwise direction(Figs. 5 and 8) by means of a sprocket ||0 (Fig.

6) fixed to the sleeve |00 and driven by a chain (Figs. 2 and 6) whichis in turn actuated by a speed reducer ||2 driven from a motor ||3 shownin Fig. 1.

Mounted at the left end of the sleeve |00 is a vibrator disc ||4 havinga series of depressions ||5 formed therein for cooperation with a.roller H5 mounted in a bearing ||1 which surrounds the tube B3. The tube83 will thus be vibrated against the pressure of the spring 81 and anyof the spacers 39 which fall into the tube will be shaken lto cause themto assume a at position in the bottom of the tube. The bottom end of thetube 83 is pivotally mounted in a guide member ||8 fixed to thestationary ring 82 and the upper end of the tube has a trough |9 mountedthereon for receiving spacers which have been carried by the ring |02from the bottom of the hopper to the top thereof, the suction appliedthrough the slot 95 serving to hold the spacers on the ring |02 whilethey are carried through that portion of the rotation of the ring |02,where gravity would tend to draw them out of the depressions |08. Itwill be noted, by reference to Fig. 5, that the groove 95 extends from apoint just below the point where the parts would tend to fall out of thering |02 to a point directly above the trough i|9 so that the spacerspicked up by the ring |02 at the bottom of the hopper will be carried tothe top thereof and into position over the trough H9 where the suctionon the spacers will be relieved due to the holes |04 moving out ofassociation with the arcuately shaped groove 95. The face of theperforated barrel has a relatively large opening therein through whichparts may be placed in the hopper and a cover plate |2| is provided forclosing this opening.

Rotatably mounted on the sleeve |00 (Fig. 6) is a disc |30, which issomewhat larger in size than the disc |0I, and which has a rim |3|extending outwardly therefrom and surrounding the ring |02. Theperipheral edge of the disc has gear teeth |32 formed thereon wherebythe disc |30 is driven in a counterclockwise direc tion (Figs. 5 and 8)and the rim i3| has a brake band |33 almost completely surrounding itfor applying a drag to the disc |30 so that its rotation will be smoothand in timed relation to the driving of other apparatus, to be describedhereinafter. Positioned on the left face (Fig. 6) of the rim |3| andheld in place thereon by the screws |34 is a spacer advancing andtilting assembly designated generally by the numeral |35.

The assembly |35 comprises a ring |36, L shaped in cross section, andhaving a series of apertures |31 equallyspaced about its horizontallyextending arm. These apertures |31 are slightly larger in diameter thanthe diameter of ring the spacers 39. A spacer ring |39 is seated in theangle formed by the junction of the two arms of the L-shaped ring |36and has cooperating therewith a iiat ring |39, rectangular `in crosssection, through which the screws v|34 extend.,

The flat ring |39 andthe spacer rings |38 have interposed between themaplurality of spacer tilting members |40, which areflat on two sides androunded on their other surface; and which are so mounted as to be insubstantial alignment with the apertures |31. The spacertilting inembersare provided with pins for-holding them in place between the at ring |39and the spacer |38 and some ofthem have. apertures through which thescrews |34 extend. The ring |36 is of such diameter that itshorizontally extending arm will just engage the lower endiofv the guidemember ||8 as the ring is rotated. The

portion of the horizontally extending arm of the* ring |36, whichengages the undersurface oiffthe.

guide member l I8, is of such thickness that' spacers 39 in the guidemember H8, which incidentally is provided with a window |42, will dropone I a.

at a time into-the apertures |31'in thering |35.

A plate |43 is positioned to engage therouter suri face of the ring |36for a shortdistance adjacent the guide member ||6 and supports thespacers 39 while they are in the apertures |31. It. will thus beapparent that spacers f3.9' will d-igptrom the guide member H8 onto theplate N3 each time an aperture |31 comes in direct alignment with theopen end of the guide member ||8 and that spacers will thusrbe drawnfrom the bottom of the pile in the guide member 8{orie'at a time andwill be moved along the plaftei'f'i-until they reach its right end (Fig.8), where they will dropx on the plate |43 and into position between theadjacent spacer tilting membersl |40. .As the spacers 39 fall ontothespacer tilting members, they will strike the rounded face .thereof andbe tilted to a substantially'vertical position and will be preventedfrom falling through the space be# tween the mung members by a guide pmem,

until they have been carried to the right end of the guide plate (Fig.8), where they will be permitted to drop from their position between thetilting members.

The disc |30 is driven by a gear `=,|50, which meshes with the gearteeth |32 formed on the periphery of the disc and the gear |50'Iismounted upon a shaft |5|, which also carries an idler sprocket |52. Theidler sprocket |52-supports a carrier chain |53, which serves to carrythe spac ers 39 while they are being assembled with the wires 35, 36, 31and 38. The carrier chain |53 comprises a plurality of links |54 anfd|55, which are substantially U-shaped in configuration, as

may be seen by reference to Fig. 9'. and are interconnected by pins |56.All ofQthe links |54 and |55 have upwardly extending projections y|51 ineach of which there ijs formed a slot |58i`or receiving the wire 35.projections |51 formed on the links |54 and |55 cooperate to providespaced-apart portions between each pair of links wherein the spacers 39The upwardlygextending may be carried throughfthe spacer andwire as-f"sembling section of themachine. The links |54 are somewhat larger'incross section than the` links and have 'projecting ears |59 which exytend over projecting ears |60 formed on the links Positioned within eachpair of projecting |54. ears |60 is a roller |6|, which engages in theteeth of sprocket |52 and rides on a'platel |62 after they leave thesprocket. The plate |62 is positioned between a pair ofspa'cer platesy|63 .porting plates |65 and 66 have the shaft |.5|

journalled therein and also support a tie bar I1 to which the brake band|33 is tied by means of a brake rod |12, one end of which is fixed tothe tie bar |1| and the other end of which extends through .the tie barand is normally held taut on the rim |3| by means of a coil spring |13surrounding the end of the rod |12 and interposed between a nut |14 onthe rod and the tie bar |1|.

vThe supporting plate |65 also supports the plates |43'and |44, theplate |44 being formed integral with a bracket |15 which is fixed to theplate |65 and has an extending portion |16 on which the plate |43 ismounted. The left end (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) of the supporting plates |65and |66 have a wire guide |85 mounted thereon for directing the strandof wire 35 into the slots |58 in the links of the carrier chain.

Since the idler sprocket |52 and the disc |38 are geared together, it isbelieved that it will be apparent that the spacer advancing and tiltingassembly |35 will be rotated in timed relation to the movement of thecarrier chain |53. Reference to Fig. 8 will make it clear that thespacers 39, which are dropped into the space between the i spacertilting members |48, will be carried along `n the guide plate |44 untilthey come to the end of the plate |44 and thereafter will drop o theplate |44 into the slots between ythe links on the carrier chain |53.Since the assembly |35 and chain |53 are driven -in synchronism, onespacer 39 Will be dropped in each slot between the links of, the carrierchain and will rest on the wire 35, which is in the slots |58 in thelinks |54 and |55, a pair of guide members |86 and |81 being providedfor holding the spacers 39 against movement to the right or left (Figs.6 and 9) and a pair of guide members |88 and |89 being provided forguiding the carrier chain during its movement. The guide members |86 and|81 are mounted on the guide members |88 and |89, respectively, whichare in turn positioned on top of the supporting plates |65 and` |66. Thespacers thus deposited in the carrier chain Will be moved to the right(Figs. 1, 2, and 8) past a brush |98, which is rotated at relativelyhigh speed by means of a belt |9| driven from the speed reducer ||2(Figs. 2 and 5). The brush |98 is mounted upon a bracket |92 which issecured to the plate |65 and extends over the guide members |86 and |81.The brush |98 is rotated at right angles or obliquely to the directionof travel of the carrier chain `and will thus spin the spacers in thechain until one of the slots in the spacer engages the Wire 35 and thespacer drops down away from the brush.

A blast of air delivered from a jet, such as is shown at |93, may bedirected to the periphery of the spacers to supplement the brush |98 orthe brush |98 may be omitted and the jet |93 connected to a suitablesource of air under pressure may be used to rotate the spacers until thebottom slot in the spacer engages with the wire 35.

The blast of air will also remove any foreign matter from the surfacesof the spacers.

As the spacers are carried to the right by the carrier chain |53, andafter they have passed the brush, any spacer which was not properlyseated on thewires 35, that is, any spacer which did not have one of itsslots brought into registry with the Wire 35, will be lraised up abovethe top of the guide members |86 and |81, and as itmoves forward, itwill engage the underside of a bar |95 (Fig. 10) which is slidablevertically on a bridge member |96 and'a pair of bridge members |98 and|99. The bar |95 is heldin the bridge members by means of a pair of pins288 and 28| set in the bridge member |96 and in the bridge members |98and |99, respectively, and engaging in'slots 282 and 283, respectively,in the bar |95. The bridge member |96 is mounted upon the guide members|86 and |81 and extends upwardly and over the carrier chain with thespacers on it, whereas the bridge members |98 and |99 are mounted onshouldered plates |83 and |84, which are in turn xed to the supportingplates |65 and |66/The`v bridge member |96 has a block of insulatingmaterial 285 mounted thereon which carries a contact 286 adapted to beengaged by a contact 281 mounted on the bar |95 if the bar |95 is movedupwardly by a spacer not properly placed on the carrier chain. If thespacers 39, as they pass the bar |95, are in the proper position, anextending portion 288 of thebar will register with a slot in the spacer,as shown in Fig. 12. However, if any spacer happens to be turned out ofits normal position and the wire 35 is not in one of the slots, thespacers will raise the bar |95, thereby to cause a circuit to becompleted between the contacts 286 and 281 to establish other circuitconnections (not shown) for stopping the machines and notifying theoperator, by either an audible or visible signal, of the reason for themachine stopping. The bridge members |98 and |99 are bolted together bymachine screws 2|8 and serve another purpose, that is, they cooperatewith a substantially triangularly shaped member 289 interposed between,

them to serve as a guide for the wire 38.

Positioned closely adjacent the right end (Fig. l0) of the bridgemembers |98 and |99 and the triangularly shaped member 289 is the rstpres-.

sure roll 228, of a series of pressure rolls, which serves to force thewire 38 firmly into the slots in the spacers 39. As may be seen, byreference to Figs. 19 and 17, the pressure roll 228 has a reducedsection 22| at its periphery, which extends into the uppermost slot inthe spacers 39 and will force the wire 38 down into the slot. Thepressure roll is mounted upon a shaft 222 formed integral with a block223 fixed in a plate 224, which is dove-tailed, as shown at 225, in aplate 226, which in turn is secured to a mounting bracket 221. 'I'hebracket 221 is suitably. fixed to the supporting plate |66 and supportsthe plate 226, which has a hollow central portion 228 through which ascrew 229 extends. Fixed to the upper end of the screw 229 is a knurledhandle 238 having a reduced portion 23| on which there are suitablyinscribed markings for indicating the degree of rotation of the screw229 with respect to the block 223 in which it is threaded. The markingson the reduced portion 23| cooperate with a reference mark on a 'collar232, which is keyed in the plate 226 by means of a tapered pin 233, andcooperates with a shoulder 234 formed on the screw 229 to hold the screwxed against vertical movement. A set screw .235 is threaded into thecollar 232 and may be set against the shank of the screw 229 to hold itin any one of its adjusted positions. It is believed to be apparent, byreference to Figs. 10 and 1'1, that rotation of the screw 229 willchange the position of the pressure roll 220 with respect to the spacers39 carried by the carrier chain |53.

A pair of brackets 245 and 246 are mounted on the supporting plates |65and |66 and adjustably support pressure rolls 241 and 248, respectively.These two pressure rolls are identical in construction with the pressureroll 220 and serve to accurately position the wires 36 and 31 in theslots in the spacers 39 as the spacers are moved past them.

The wires 36 and 31 (Figs. 10 and 11) are passed through slots 249 and250 in the shouldered plates |83 and |84, respectively, and the plates|83 and |84 have air passages 25| and 252 formed therein connected to asuitable source of air under pressure by pipes 253 and 254,respectively. The air under pressure passing through the passages 25|and 252 is directed by a pair of jets 255 and 256 onto spacers carriedby the carrier chain |53 so that the spacers will be forced against theright-hand links |54 and |55 as the spacers move into association withthe presser roll 220, whereby the spacers, in being forced onto theirassociated wires, will be `spaced equal distances one from another. Theassembled wires and spacers will continue to move to the right as thecarrier chain |53 advances, and in so moving to the right, will arriveat the position shown in detail in Figs. 14 and 15, where the si'deslots in the spacers are engaged by two stabilizing fins 260 and 26|mounted on the supporting plates |65 and |66. These stabilizing finswill restrain the spacers against movement vertically as they are movedto the right in a horizontal plane and will carry them past a sensingdevice, designated generally by the numeral 262 which comprises anL-shaped sensing finger 263 pivotally mounted on a bridge 264 which iscarried by the supporting plates |65 and |66. The sensing finger 263 ispivoted on the bridge 264 and has a horizontally extending sur-1 face265 which engages the upper surface of the spacers as they pass by andthis surface 265 is of sufflcient'length to span a little more than twoof the'spacers in position in the carrier chain. If a spacer is missingfrom the group strung on the four wires, the sensing finger 263 willtilt in a clockwise direction to bring a contact 266, mounted upon itsvertically extending portion, into engagement with a fixed contact 261to establish circuit connections, not shown, which will cause themachine to stop and indicate the condition which exists.

Shortly after the assembled wires and spacers pass the sensing finger263, the carrier chain will start to recede from the spacers due to thefact that the upper surface of the plate |62 slopes downwardly, as shownat 268. As soon as the carrier chain |53 has moved downwardly from thespacers a sufficient distance so that it will not disturb their spacingin the manner just described, the chain passes onto its driving sprocket269, which is mounted upon a shaft 210 extending outwardly from a speedreducer 21| (Fig. 2). The speed reducer 21| is mounted upon a platform212 and isl driven by means of a chain drive 213 from a main drive shaft214. Reference to the right end of Figs. 1 and 2 and the left end ofFig. 3 shows that the main drive shaft 214 is geared to an auxiliarydrive shaft 215, which is in turn driven by a main driving motor 216.The motor 216 is mounted on the left end of a supporting framework 211,at the left end of which (Figs. 1 and 2) there are a pair of uprightstandards 219 and 280. 'Ihe upright'standard 219 is xed to and supportsthe supporting plate |65 and the standard 280 supports the supportingplate |66. Both of the supporting plates |65 and |66 extend to the righta short distance beyond the standards 219 and 280 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 14)and have mounted thereon brackets 28|, 282, 283 and 284, which supportfour pressure rolls 285, 286, 281 and 288, which are identical inconstruction with the pressure roll 220, and which are supported inexactly the same manner on their associatedbrackets as was the pressureroll 220 on its bracket 221. As will be apparent, by reference to Figs.1, 2, 3, 14, 16 and 18, the pressure rolls 285 and 286 and pressurerolls 201 and 288 are mounted to engage the wires at diametricallyopposed points so that the wires will be set into the spacers anaccurately measured and equal distance. From the pressure rolls 285,286, 281 and 288 the assembled wires and spacers are di. rected to thetaping mechanism.

Taping mechanism The taping mechanism includes three taping heads,designated generally by the numerals 300, 30|, and 302, which aresubstantially identical in construction and which apply two gap typepaper tapes 303, one overlapping copper tape 304, and two gap type steeltapes 305, respectively, to the assembled spacers and wires. The onlydifference between the various taping heads lies in the dimensions ofthe guides which direct the layers of material to the assembled wiresand spacers and therefore only the taping head 300 will be described indetail. Extending upwardly from the` supporting framework 211, are.three inverted V shaped standards 306, 301 and 308, which are formedfrom channel members and suitable gusset plates and which bridge theframework 211 and extend upwardly therefrom to support the heads 300,38| and 302, respectively. Mounted in the standard 306 is a tubularbearing member 309 which has a shoulder 3|0 for engaging one side of thestandard 306 and which is threaded at 3H to receive a locking member 3|2whereby the bearing 309 will be locked in position in the standard 306.A tubular head supporting member 3|3 is rotatably mounted upon thebearing 309 and has keyed thereto a sprocket 3|4 adapted to be driven bya chain 3|5, which is in turn driven'by the auxiliary drive shaft 215.

- 'Ihe head supporting member 3|3 has a flanged portion 320, on whichare mounted a pair of brackets 32| and 322, the bracket 32| beingmounted directly on the ange 320 and the bracket 322 being spacedtherefrom by means of a block 323. The brackets 32| and 322 haveadjustable tape reel supporting members 324 and 325, respectively,mounted thereon. 'Ihe tape reel supporting members 324 and 325 areadjustable angularly with respect to the brackets 32| and 322 so thatthe angle at which the tapes 303 are fed from their reels 326 may beadjusted to control the angle of feed thereof to the assembled spacersand'wires. Also mounted upon the flange 320 is a substantiallyrectangular plate 330, which has a collar 33| fixed therein by means ofscrews 332. The collar 33| has a tubular member 333 xed therein by meansof set screws 334 threaded in the collar 33| and engaging the outersurface of the tubular member 333. At its left end (Fig. 19) the tubularmember S33-carries an insulating bushing 335 having an annular member336 fixed to its outer end for cooperation With a brush 331 mounted uponthe locking member 3|2. The bushing 335 has an aperture 338 formedtherein throughfwhich an insulated wire 339 passes for connection ytothe annular member 336. l 'Ihis wire 3 39 is wrapped around the tubularmember 333 and extends through a slot 340 formed in the collar 33|.-Mounted in the tubular member 333 and fixed thereto, by means of a setscrew 34|, is a .guide supporting tube 342 around which the insulatedwire 339 is wrapped and to which there is fixed an annular insulatingbushing 343 The guide supporting tube 342 has a pair of rounded slots344 formed therein and extending a substantial distance from the rightend (Fig. 19) of the tube. There is a shouldered guide member 345,formed vof two semi-circular halves, inserted into the right end (Fig.19) of the tube 342 and having an internal diameter just slightly largerthan the wires and spacersy with' the servings of paper tape 303thereon. The member 345 is held in place in the end of the tube by aring 346 surrounding the tube and compressing it against the member 345,set screws 353 being threaded in the ring 346 to compress the tube 342on the guide member 345. Fixed tothe tube 342 intermediate the ring 346and the insulating bushing 343 are a pair of guide sleeves 341 and 348which surround the tube and have rounded guide surfaces 349 and'350and35| and 352, respectively, which engage the edges of the paper tapes303 to properly guide them into the rounded slots 344, from which theyare directed to the assembled' spacers and wires and are 4wrapped aroundthe assembly, as shown in Fig.` 21. Each of the guide members 341 and348 has four pins 355, 356, 351 and 358 mounted on the outer endsthereof and these pins are adaptedv to'reeive control levers 359 and360. It will be noted, by reference to Figs. '19, 20 and 21, that thecontrol levers are pivoted on the pins 355 and 358 and are urged towardthe pins 356 and 351 by the paper tapes 303 when the tapes are in thepositionshownv in Figs. 19, 20 and 21. one of the tapes 303 breaks, theweight of the lever associated with the broken tape will cause A 'thelever to rock about its pivot pin 355 or 358 andcause an extendingportion 36| to engage with an annular metallic member 362 mounted onthe, insulating bushing 343 and electrically 'connected tothe wire339.-A The-levers 359 and 360 are'in conducting engagement with theframe of the apparatus in their normal positions, and since the wire3391s insulated from the frame of the apparatus, the engagement of theextending portion- 36| of one of the levers 359 or 360 `with theconducting ring 362 will close a circuit through the frame of theapparatus to the brush 331 to establish a circuit, not shown, which willstop the machine and indicate that a tapehas broken.

` In Figs. 2l-A and 21-B, the taping guides for vapplying theoverlapping'copper tape and the two spaced steel tapes have been shownin some detail, the same reference numerals being vused as were 'used inFig. 19 for the paper tape guides but being given the exponents A and Bin Figs. 21-A and 21-B, respectively. Y It will be noted that there isonly one copper tape applied td-the "cable and that this tape is applied-in an overlapping relation, the guide members and control members beingsubstantially the same as those disclosed in FigQ 19 for thevapplication of paper tape. I n like manner, Fig. 2l-B illustrates theguide members and control mechanism for the two steel tapes.

It will be understood that as soon as the assembled wires and spacersleave the last pressure However, if

Takeup mechanism As pointed out in the brief description ofthe drawings,the twisting takeup mechanism is shown in general in Figs. 3 and 4 andin detail in Figs. 22 to 27; to which reference will now be made. Thetakeup mechanism comprises a cradle 315, which has a tubular projection316 extending to the left therefrom (Fig. 22) on which the entire cradleand ,its associated parts are-mounted. The tubular-projection 316 ismounted to rotate within a bearing 311 mounted upon a standard 318. Theleft end (Fig. 22)' of the pr`ojection'316 has a guide member 319threaded therein for guiding the completed cable, designated 380, to atakeup reel 38| on the cradle y315. v Fixed to the cradle'315 is asprocket 382 adapted to be driven by a chain 383. The chain 383, intheembodiment of the invention shown, is driven yby a sprocket mounted onthe end of a shaft l384 (Fig. 3) suitably journalled in the supportingframework 211. The shaft 384 carries, at its left end (Fig. 3), a gear385, which meshes with a gear 386 mounted on a shaft 381, which isgeared to the main drive shaft 214 by means of gears 388 and 389.- Thedriving-connection justv described will rotate the entire cradle 315-inone direction to impart a twist to the cable 389'. If it. is desired totwist the cable-in the opposite direction, the shaft 384 may bek shiftedto th'eposition in which the shaft 381 is now shown and the shaft 381eliminated, whereby the cradle 315 will be rotated in the oppositedirection.. Any suitable chain tightening device may be used fortightening the chain 383 on its sprocket 382 to compensate fortheshifting of the shaft 384 from one position to another, as justdescribed.

Rotatable on the outer surface of the bearing 311 (Figs. 22 and 24) is abrake drum 390 which has cooperating therewith a pair of brake shoes 39|and 392 mounted intermediate the ends of pivoted brake arms 393 and 394,respectively. The brake arms are pivoted at 395 and 396 ad- -jacenttheir lower ends and are connected at their upper ends to a pair ofsleeves 391 and 398, respectively. The sleeve.398 is held on the end ofa brake rod 399 by means of a pair of nuts 400 and 40|, and the sleeve391 is slidable on theV brake rod 399, which is threaded at its left end(Figs. 23 and 24) to receive a threaded hand wheel 402 between which andthe sleeve 391 there Yis interposed a coiled spring403 encircling theAwhich is fixed in an aperture 408 in the'cradlel 3.15. Thel bearingblock 401 carries a normally 'unusedv4 idler gear 409 having relativelywide teeth 4|0, which,` as shown in Fig. 25, 'are out of mesh with thegear 405, which, as shown in Fig. 22, vmeshes-with the ring gear 404.The vidler 409 is mounted upon a stud shaft'4|| fixedin the bearingblock 401 and serves no purpose when it is mounted as shown in-Figs-22and in mesh with the teeth of the gear 409 and the' teeth 4|0 of thegear 409 will be in mesh with the ring gear 404. From the foregoing, itis believed to be apparent that regardless of the direction of twistimparted tothe cable, the shaft 406 will be rotated in the same,direction if the proper gear changes are made.

Carried bythe shaft 406 (Fig. 25) von thevend opposite the end on whichthe lgear 405 is mounted, is a kbeveled gear, 420, which meshes with apair of beveled gears 42| and 422 rotatable in a transmission housing423. The gear 42| is keyed to a'shaft-424j and has formed on its leftface (Fig. 25) a toothed clutch 425,. which, as shown, is in engagementwith a clutch member 426 slidably keyed to the end of a shaft 421, whichis journalledln and freely rotatable in the gear 422. The clutchmember-.425 has formed on its left. end clutch teeth 428 adapted tocooperate with the teeth of. a clutch 429 formed on-v the right-handface (Fig. 25) -of the gear 422 when the clutch member 4,25 is shiftedto the left '.(Fig. 25), The shaft 424 drives the takeup reel 38|through a roller chain 430, which meshes with a sprocket 43| secured toa collar 432 (Figs. 23 and 27). Theshaft 424 is square in the areathereof surrounded by the collar 432 and is engaged by four rollers453-433, which are rotatable in the collar 432 so that the collar willslide freely. along .the shaft 424, as the cable v380 is distributed. onthe reel 39|. The sprocket 43| and its supporting collar 452 are mountedWithin a casing 434, ilxedto a reel supporting frame composed of anglemembers 435, 435, 431 and 438. 'Iheanglemembers 435 and 436, as shown inFig. 22, are irregularin shape and extend outwardly to the right fromthe angle members 431 and 438 to provide a pair of vertically disposedsurfaces 439 and 440 (Figs. 3, 4, 22`and23) on which reel journal blocks444 and 445, respectively, are mounted. Rotatably mounted in thereeljournal blocks 444 and 445 are a pair of bearings 44B and 441,respectively, having a reel supporting screw 440 mounted therein. Thescrew 448 is provided with an enlarged portion 449, which tapers, asshown in 450, to a smaller diameter, as shown in 45|. The taperedportion 450 ofthe screw 448 is adapted to engage in an aperture 452 inone head of the reel 38| and the portionl45| of the screw 445 y is shownthreaded at 455 to engage a correspondingly threaded portion in thebearing 441. The bearing 441 carries a iinger 454 adapted to engage inan aperture 455 inthe other head of the reel 33|, whereby the reel 34|may be fixed to the bearings'446 and 441. l

The right end (Fig. 23) of the bearing 441 has a sprocket 460 rotatablethereon and provided with a clutch face 46|, which is normally engagedby ya cooperating clutch face 452 formed on a collar 463 formed integralwith a hand wheel 454. The collar 453 is normally urged to the left(Fig. 23) by a series 'oi coil springs 455 seated in pockets in thecollar and abutting a hand 'wheel 455. Adjacent their peripheries,

' rotate together.

the hand wheels 454 and 460 have radially extending plates ,461 and 463'welded vto them and the hand Wheel 465 has an axially extending ring409 i'lxed to it for supporting' coil springs 410 in the space betweenadjacent 'platesf451 and 458, whereby the two hand wheels will be urgedto The springs 465' normallyv hold the clutch face 452 in engagementwith the clutch face 45| so'that the rotation of the sprocketl, by thechain 430, will drive the hand Wheel464 and the springs 410 interposedbetween theplates 461 and 468 will tend to drive the hand wheel 455 withthe sprocket. .The hand wheel 456 isfixed to the bearing 441 andtherefore the sprocket. `460 will resiliently drive the bearing 441 torotate the ,reel 39|. Suitable markings are placed on the hand wheels454 and 465 and the tension on the brakeshoes 39| and 392 on thebrakedrum 390 'mayy be regulated .to drive the ,takeup` reel 38| under thedesired tension", as indicated by the displacement ofthe handwheel46,4,with respect to the hand wheel 456.

Mounted inthe bottom end of the casing 4544, as shown in Figs. 23 and2'1, is a block 480 having theconguration at its left end (Fig. 21) ofhalf a nut, that is, half a thread is formed in the lblockr 480to'cooperate with a'screw 40|.' The block 4804s provided with a handle482, whereby it may be withdrawn from engagement with the screw 48|provided a springfpressed plunger 483 has been withdrawn from asocket484 in the block 480. 'Thescrew 48| is journalled in a side member-.485and a side member 425 of the cradle 315 and carries on its left end(Fig. 23 )`a gear. 481, which meshes with a gear 488 mounted .on meshaft 421.

. The side members 485 and 486 of vthe cradle 315 are joined together attheir upper ends by an angle member 41| and they are joined together attheir bottom ends by another angle member 412. The angle members 41| and412 have track members 413 and 414, respectively, fixed to them forengagement by rollers 415-415 rotatably mountedon the angle members 431and 439 of .the reel supporting frame. As shown in Figs. 22

and 23, two rollers 415 engage a horizontal sur- 'face of the trackmember 413, two rollers 415 engage a vertical surface of the track 413,two rollers `engage a vertical surface of the track member 414 and tworollers engage a horizontal suriace'of the track member 414. From theforegoing, it is believed to be apparent that the reel supporting framemay be slid backend forth on the cradle 315 to move the reel 38| mountedthereon back and forth with respect to the guide, member 319 todistribute the cable 390 on the reel 30|.

As shown in Fig. 25, the shaft 421 is connected through the clutchmember 425 to the gear 42|,

whereby the reel supporting frame he driven,

to the left (Fig. 23) and this drive of theyreel supporting frame to theleft (Fig. 23) will continue until the angle member 430 engages a collar454 iixed to a shaft 49| and slidable in the transmission housing 423.The collar 490 is pinned to the shaft 49| at 492 and a correspondingcollar 495 isv pinned to the shaft 49| at 494. 'The collars 490 and .493have pockets 495 and 498 formed therein in which coilfsprings 491 and49S,- respectively, are seated. 4rThe coil springs 451 and 495 abut ashoulder 455 formed on a sleeve 550, which is slidable on the shaft 49|.

The collar 455 has an extension 55| formed thereon which enters a slot552 in a ring 593 xed to the clutch member 425. A pair of latches butalso drives the shaft |5| through the idler 504 and 505 (Fig. 26)cooperate with the collar 499 to hold it in either of two positions,being urged into engagement with the collar by coil springs 506 and 501,respectively.

The just described mechanism comprises what is commonly known as aloadand re mechanism, which/will' hold the clutch member 426 inengagement'with either the clutch face 425 or the clutch face 429, intowhichl positions the clutch member will be moved by the snap action ofthe springs when the collar 490- or the collar 493 engages the anglemembers 435 or 436. When the clutch member 426 is moved from engagementwith the clutch face 425 into engagement )5 with the clutch face 429,the direction o f rotation of the screw 48| will be reversed and thescrew will continue to rotate in said reversed direction until the loadand fire mechanism is reversed again by the forcing of the shaft 49| in;the

120 oppositt direction, whereupon the direction of 30 41 and threadedthrough the machine to the reel 38| and fixedto the reel in any suitablemanner, -a supply of spacers 39 having been placed in the perforatedbarrel, and reels of paper, cop- `per and steel tapes having been placedon the $5 taping heads 308, 30| and 302, the motors H3 and 21G'may bestarted to initiate the operation ofthe machine. The motor H3 willrotate the ring |02 and the ring will pick up spacers 39 from the bottom.of the barrel and carry them up '40 to the trough l |9, where they willbe dropped into thetube 83. The motor H3 will also cause the tube 83 tovibrate through the engagement of the roller H6 with the depressions H5on the vibrator disc H4, whereby the spacers carriedffrom 45 the bottomof the barrel 15 up to the trough H9 willbe arranged in an orderly pilein the tube 83. The means for vibrating the tube 83 illustrates one formof device that may be used, but it will be understood that anvelectrical coil. vibrator or 50 any other suitable device may be used.

Spacers which have been piled up in the tube 83 will pass downwardlythrough the tube and assume the position shown in Fig. 8, where they arerestingr on the plate |43. As the motor 216 is l '55 started, thecarrier chain |53 will start to advance, the drive for the carrier chainbeing supplied from the motor 216 through the main drive shaft 215 andauxiliary drive shaft 214, the chain 213 and speed reducer 21| to themain driving 30 sprocket 269.v The carrier chain |53 not only serves toadvance the spacers 39 which it carries,

sprocket |52, which meshes with the carrier chain |53. The gear |50,which is mounted on the I .65 shaft 15|, drives the disc |30 and thespacers,

f vwhich are fed downwardly through tube 83 tothe plate |43, will bepicked off the plate |43 one at a time by the ring |36, rotating intimed relation tothe drive of the carrier chain, and the spacersv70-fwhich are picked oi'the plate |43 will drop through the apertures|31 in the ring |36 and will fall into the space between adjacent spacertilting members |46, where they will rest on their edges on the uppersurface of the guide plate |44 un- 75 til they reach the end of theguide plate and drop rtwo layers of steel tape.

into the slots between the links |54 and |55 of the carrier chain |53.The brake band |33, ln retarding the motion of the disc |30, will alsotake up any slack which there may be in the carrier chain |53 and insurethat the space between the spacer tilting lmembers |40 and the spacebetween adjacent links |54 and |55 are in proper alignment so that thespacers will drop on of the plate |44 and into space between theprojections |51 on the links.

Asy the carrier chain advances to the right, it will carry the spacers,which have dropped off the guide plate |44, to the right intoassociation with the/brush |98, driven by the motor |33, where thespacers will be spun by the brush |90 and the blast of air from the jet|93 or if the brush is not used, then by the blast of air until a slotin the spacer is engaged by the wire 35 and the spacers which will stopthe machine and notify an'ropera` tor of the condition which exists.`

A continued movement of the spacers 39 and lthe wires and 38 to theright' will bring them `into that portion of .the machine illustrated inFig. 11 where the blast of air from the jets 255 and 256 will force thespacers to the right against the upwardly extending projections |51 onthe links to the right of the spacers (Fig. 11i) just prior to the timewhen the wires 36 and 31 are guidedr into the side slots in the spacersby the pressure rolls 241 and 248. lAs the carrier chain |53 continuestocarry the assembled spacers and wires ,to the right,'the spacers willarrive at the position shownin Fig. 14, where the stabilizing fins 266and 26| engage the side slots in the spacersand where the chain` |53recedesfrom the spacers, and as the spacers pass through this position,the sensing device 262 will determine whether the partially formed cablehas arrived at this position with a spacer missing, and if a spacer ismissing, the sensing finger 263 will tilt in a clockwise direction tomove contact 266 into engagement with contact 261 to establish a circuitcondition stopping the machine and notifying the operator that a spaceris missing from the assembly.

The assembled `wires 35, 36, 31 and 38 and spacers 39 are advanced, fromthe point where the carrier chain |53 moves out of engagement with thespacers, by the twisting takeup mechanism and they will be drawn throughthe pressure rolls 285, 286, 281 and 288, which have beenmicrometrically adjusted, so that-the wires will be forced into theslots in the spacers the desired distance, and as soon as the assembledwires and spacers move out of association with the pressure rolls 285,286, 281 and 288, the twist will start to be imparted to the assemblywhile the assembly is passing through the taping mechanism.

In thetaping mechanism, there are provided the three taping heads 30|,302 and 303, which apply two layers of paper tape, a single layer ofcopper tape applied in overlapping relation, and The taping heads arerotated about the assembled wires and spacers by from' the auxiliarydrive shaft 215 instead of from the main drive shaft 214, and by drivingthe tapvingl heads 300 and 302 from the main drive shaft 214, ratherthan from the main auxiliary drive shaft 215. If one of the tapes beingapplied to the assembled spacers and wires breaks, its associatedcontrollever 359 or 360 will be released and 4will move its extending portion36| into engagement with the annular members 362 to complete',a'circ'uit from the frame of the machine "through the lever which hasbeen released and the v.wire 339 and brush 331 to establish a circuitwhich-will indicate that a tape has broken.

,The reelY cradle 315, which is rotated by means of the chain 383ineither of two directions, depending upon whether the shaft 384 is inthe position shown or in the position now shown occupied by the shaft381, rotates within the bearing 311 and as the cradle revolves, itcarries with it the shaft 406, which carries the gear 405 in mesh withthe ring gear 404. The ring gear 404, being fixed to the brake drum 390,will be permitted to rotate only when there is a predetermined tensionon the cable 380 and therefore, if the brake shoes 39| and 392 werereleased from the brake drum 390, the brake drum and ring gear 404 wouldbe free to rotate and no motion would be imparted to the takeup reel38|. However, when brake pressure is applied to the brake drum 390,there will be a speed variation between the drum 390 and the cradle 315,whereby the gear 405 will proceed to walk about the ring gear 404,rotating the shaft 406 and rotating the takeup reel through the beveledgears 420 and 423, shaft 424 and chain 430 driven from the shaft 424.

The tension under which the cable is drawn through the machine will beindicated by the relative displacement of the hand wheels 464 and 466 inthe following manner. The reel 38| is driven by the sprocket 460, theclutch face 46| of which meshes with the clutch face 462 on the collar463 formed integral with the hand wheel 464, which is in turn connectedthrough the springs 410 to the hand wheel 466 xed to the bearing 441, onwhich the reel is secured. As tension increases on, the cable beingdrawn through the machine, the hand wheels 464 and 466 will be displacedrelative to each other as the springs 410 are compressed and the amountof the displacement will be the measure of the amount of tension on thecable, and when this tension has increased to the desired amount, thebrake shoes 39| and 392 may be released slightly to permit the brakedrum 390 to rotate with that predetermined amount of displacementbetween the hand wheels 464 and 466. After the brake shoes 39| and 392have been set to apply the proper tension to the cable, they willrequire practically no attention, but willmaintain the cable under thattension since any slack in the cable will be taken up by the springs 410driving the driven member or bearing 441.

It is believed to be thus apparent that the reel 38| may be rotated intimed relation to the drive of the carrier chain while maintaining thecable being reeled on the reel under a selected tension.

As the reel rotates to Wind the cable 380 on it, the framework,comprised of the angle members 435, 436, 431, and 438, which carry thereel, will be shifted across the cradle 315 by the distributingmechanism, which includes the screw 48| and the block 480, and as thereel moves across the cradle during the rotation of the cradle, thecable 380 will be distributed across the drum of the reel from one headthereof to the other, the direction of rotation of the screw 48| beingreversed each time one of the collars 490 or 493 is pushed against itsassociated anglemember 436 or 435, with suiicient force to snap thelatches 504 or 505 into and `out of latching engagement with theshoulder 499.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been describedherein, it will be understood that the construction shown is subject tonumerous modifications and that applicants invention is to be limitedonly by' the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable-making machine comprising means for feedingy insulators to anassembly area, means for directing wires into engagement with saidinsulators, means for applying a sheath to the'assembled wires andinsulators, and means for imparting a twist to the assembled wires andinsulators.

2. A cable-making machine comprising means for feeding insulators to anassembly area, means for directing wires into engagement with saidinsulators, means for applying a sheath to the assembled wires andinsulators, and means for imparting a twist to the assembled wires andinsulators during the application of the sheath to the assembled wiresand insulators.

3. A cable-making machine comprising a spacer-carrying device, means forfeeding spacers to said device one at a time, means for directing wiresintoy association with spacers carried by said device, tape feedingmechanisms for applying a sheath 'to the assembled wires and spacers,and a twisting takeup for reeling the sheathed wires and spacers andimparting a spiral twist to the assembled wires and spacers.

4. A cable-making machine comprising a spacer-carrying device, means forfeeding spacers to said device one at a time, means for directing wiresinto association with'spacers carried by said device, means for forcingthe wires into slots in the spacers, tape feeding mechanisms forapplying a sheath to the assembled wires and spacers, and a twistingtakeup for reeling the sheathed wires and spacers and imparting a spiraltwist to the assembled wires and spacers.

5. Av cable-making machine comprising a spacer-carrying device, meansfor feeding spacers to said device one at a time, means for directingwires into association with spacers carried by said device, means forforcing the wires into slots in the spacers, micrometrically adjustablesupports for said last-mentioned means for accurately spacing wires onthe spacers, tape feeding mechanisms for applying a sheath to theassembled wires and spacers, and a twisting takeup for reeling thesheathed wires and spacers and imparting a spiral twist to the assembledwires and spacers.

6. An apparatus for making a cable comprised of spaced and spirallyformed wires held spaced by insulators placed at spaced intervalsthroughout the length of the cable including assembling means forforcing a plurality of wires into gripping engagement with insulators,means for ap-

